FDNY academy admits being fooled by satire article and allows recruit to stay after failing PT testing

FDNY Academy instructor William Nelson admitted today that he was fooled by a fake news article posted online about his academy. In the article, posted to a web site known for satire, it was detailed that a Judge was ordering the FDNY academy to become easier.

As instructor Nelson tells it. “Instructor Bart Johnston sends me this link on Facebook to some news article. The article states that some federal judge has ordered us to be easy on this class. Keep in mind this class was full of people who should not have gotten in at all due to some dumb ass judge. Don’t ask me why but I believed the article.”

Instructor Nelson goes on to explain how the next day everyone is talking about this viral posting online. He also saw a post by noted Fire Service blogger Dave Statter talking about the article. In addition that day also happened to be a physical fitness test.

“So recruit Tapia comes up short on the fitness test run. I should have failed her on the spot. But then I think about reading that the judge told us to go easy. I asked her what happened and she gave some lame excuse. She had an excuse so I said we could see about a retest.”

Because Nelson did not take action right then he apparently set a precedent. Commissioner Salvatore tried to step in but the damage was done. As reported in the NY Post, the United Women Firefighters rallied behind recruit Tapia. She has now failed the fitness test five times and is still employed by the fire department.

Instructor Nelson expressed his personal displeasure in believing something that was so obviously a satire. “Me believing this article had a real effect on my department. Seriously WTF is wrong with me? Imagine if some military leader or some politician believed and took action on what they read on “The Onion”?”

Top brass at the FDNY would not talk to Call The Cops. Recruit Tapia was also not able to talk to us for this story.